1 After these things the Gods tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I."
2 They said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."
It seemed to Abraham that the law of Spiritual growth demanded the slaying of Isaac, the whole consciousness of Joy. Moriah, the name of the land where Abraham was sent to make his sacrifice, signifies the "bitterness of YHVH." So, we find that the changes that take place in consciousness sometimes are bitter experiences, and it takes a strong faith to believe that good will come out of them. Yet, it always does come when the individual is dutifully working toward spiritual purification according to the divine laws.
3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; and he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which the Gods had told him.
Abraham rising early in the morning to do this signifies beginning the practical work as soon as it is known, rather than putting it off. In this case, it means making all preparations toward living spiritually and beginning practical exercises of spiritual purification.
4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar off.
5 Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the ass; I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you."
Your personal work is no one's business but your own. It is only after it is done that it should be discussed with others. This is symbolized by the half-truth Abraham told his men.
6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it on Isaac, his son; and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together.
All the practical work is performed. In the beginning, the practitioner may feel overwhelmed, like they are sacrificing joy in life (Isaac) in order to become more spiritual.
7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, "My father!" And he said, "Here am I, my son." He said, "Behold, the fire and the wood; but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"
8 Abraham said, "Gods themselves will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they went both of them together.
9 When they came to the place of which the Gods had told him, Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.
10 Then Abraham put forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
It is only when the individual makes it clear that their willing to put spirituality first, before all else, that the full truth becomes clear...
11 But the angel of YHVH called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I."
12 He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear Gods, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me."
13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.
That truth that is learned is that the individual never sacrifices Joy (Isaac) but instead only sacrifices some of those things that occupied much of their spare time. The individual finds great joy from the results of the spiritual work they are doing. As one example, a state is reached where there is a sense of Bliss rivaling all previous states of consciousness.
14 So Abraham called the name of that place YHVH will provide; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of YHVH it shall be provided."
It signifies the Divine Mind. If we expect to demonstrate prosperity from without, we find it a slow process; but if we know that the Divine Mind is the provider, we have the key to the inexhaustible resource. This unlimited resource is the spiritual consciousness and the unlimited energy that is part of it. The recognition needed is the understanding that all Life and all Matter comes from the union of these two things.
15 And the angel of YHVH called to Abraham a second time from heaven,
16 and said, "By myself I have sworn, says YHVH, because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son,
17 I will indeed bless you, and I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore. And your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies,
18 and by your descendants shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves, because you have obeyed my voice."
By sacrificing some of the activities that were occupying so much time, the individual's spiritual consciousness becomes much more empowered and thus empowers the whole body.
19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beer-sheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba.
The two young men represent masculine forces that have been trained for service under the supervision of the expanding spiritual consciousness. Beer-sheba represents the establishing of a right relationship in consciousness between the spiritual and the seemingly material. Faith (Abraham) and the young masculine thoughts dwell in the state of consciousness represented by Beer-sheba, and it is in the light of this fact that the following incidents are to be understood.
20 Now after these things it was told Abraham, "Behold, Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor:
Milcah represents the soul in its function of expressing Dominion, Wisdom, and Good Judgment. The soul of man on its feminine side is intuitive and often perceives or senses things that, while they are not perceived by the outer or more active and positive part of the individual consciousness, should be heeded by it. Nahor symbolizes a piercing and breaking up of the individual material consciousness, hitherto unenlightened by Truth, so that a new line of thought may be brought forth. Nahor and Milcah united to produce eight children (states of consciousness), whose names are interpreted in the next two passages.
21 Uz the first-born, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram,
Uz denotes the process of thought by which man arrives at a conclusion (be it true or erroneous) and establishes it in consciousness; rational thinking. The name Buz means "despicable," "contempt," "despised." Buz represents a scornful, scoffing state of thought, which is despicable in the light of Truth. The name Kemuel means "God stands," "God's Righteousness." Kemuel symbolizes the Righteousness and Judgment of God in the process of rising in individual consciousness, of growing and taking a firmer hold; also of bringing about a closer union of the true, higher, spiritual thoughts of the mind in order to establish the adjustment that is needed for the further progress of the individual that produces a purified (spiritually enlightened) intellect of a spiritual person. This later form of the intellect is what Aram now symbolizes.
22 Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethu'el."
The name Chesed means "an Astrologer," "a Magus," "Wisdom." Chesed represents a certain type of wisdom, a wisdom that is psychic in its nature rather than spiritual. The name Hazo means "Vision," "Revelation," "Agreement." The arousing of a higher desire in man (Nahor) through the activity of faith (Abraham) causing the piercing of the darkness of material belief and opens the way for a new and clearer insight into Truth. This new insight is symbolized by Hazo. The name Pildash means "flame of fire." Pildash represents "Zeal" or "Ardor". It is the result of a quickening that has taken place in consciousness. The name Jidlaph means "Dropping," "Distilling," "Tearful." Jidlaph represents a distilling of people in one's environment. It is a negative view of others based on the belief that you are better than them because of your spiritual work. The name Bethuel means "dweller in God," "abode of God." Bethuel represents unity with God; a conscious union with the One Mind.
23 Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham's brother.
Rebekah (the name of Bethuel's daughter) means "tying firmly," "snare," "beauty that ensnares." Rebekah represents the soul's natural delight in beauty. This is the state to which the soul is returned when one achieves conscious unity with God, also called spiritual consciousness.
24 Moreover, his concubine, whose name was Reumah, bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.
Reumah (the name of Nahor's concubine means "lofty," "sublime," "pearl." Reumah symbolizes the soul or feminine principle in man elevated to a place of appreciation, of high esteem, in consciousness. The name Tebah means "slaughter," "slaying," "life guard." Tebah represents an active thought of or strong belief in self-defense ("life guard") that is very destructive ("slaughter," i. e., of animals or people). The name Gaham means "flaming," "burning," "charring." Gaham symbolizes the heat of sense consciousness brought to a climax, a focus, and burning itself out. This is caused by the higher desires (Nahor and Reumah) that have been aroused by the awakening spiritual consciousness in the individual. Thus a reaction sets in, the whole consciousness revolts against sense beliefs, and a measure of purification is accomplished. The name Tahash means "burrowing," "diving," "ram." Tahash symbolizes an increase of life activity in the organism but an activity more of the animal than the spiritual kind. The name Maacah means "squeezed," "compressed." Maacah represents an oppressively aggressive character. He is of the materialistic consciousness.